Rep. Maloney Introduces ‘Do Unto Others’ Legislation to Put Members of Congress on Bad Health Plans They Forced on Constituents

Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) introduced a package of legislation that would force Members of Congress, who represent states that seek waivers, to forgo their health plans on DC's Health Insurance Marketplace and buy the plans with less coverage or higher costs that their constituents are forced to choose from. Rep. Maloney's legislation is in response to House Republican's American Health Care Act, also known as TrumpCare, which would provide states with the option of waiving essential health benefits (EHB), pre-existing conditions coverage, or creating an age-tax.

"What's good for the goose is good for the gander - Members of Congress who vote for a garbage health care bill shouldn't get to keep their special access to Obamacare while they stick their constituents with more expensive plans that cover less," said Rep. Maloney. "Don't think your state should cover Essential Health Benefits like hospital stays or prescription drugs? Then your family shouldn't get that coverage either. If you think high risk pools are so great, you can join one. Think older folks should be charged more for their care? You can pay those rates too."

Rep. Maloney's Do Unto Others package includes three pieces of legislation:

* No Carve Out for Congress Act, would restrict Members who represent a state with an essential health benefits (EHB) waiver to the lowest actuarial value health insurance coverage available under the waiver in their state. Members would only be eligible to enroll in health insurance on their State individual market and would receive no federal government contribution with respect to their health benefits plan.

* Goose for the Gander Act, would restrict Members who represent a state with a premium age band waiver to the highest age band premium for health insurance coverage available under the waiver in their state. Members would only be eligible to enroll in health insurance on their State individual market and would receive no federal government contribution with respect to their health benefits plan.

* High Risk Pool, No Reward Act, would restrict Members who represent a state with a waiver of the continuous coverage penalty if the state allows the use of health status underwriting (for pre-existing conditions) - these Members are only allowed to enroll in the individual market in their state and to the extent possible through a high-risk program in the same manner as their constituents who are eligible to enroll in such coverage. Members would only be eligible to enroll in health insurance on their State individual market, and would receive no federal government contribution with respect to their health benefits plan.